Thursday, August 04, 2016

More than half a million people in Greater Manchester are living in poverty despite its economic success, a report has found. Greater Manchester - which is the UK's third largest city-region economy outside of London - has seen growth in its economy, but has an estimated 620,000 people, including 180,000 children, living in poverty.

Greater Manchester has had the 3rd highest growth in economic output (GVA) of city regions outside London between 1997 and 2014. The £57bn GVA generated in 2014 made Greater Manchester the second largest English city-region economy after Leeds outside London and in 2014 there were 85,000 more jobs than 2011, with a further 111,000 forecast by 2024.

The report also revealed that there are 585,000 residents living in Greater Manchester neighbourhoods which are in the most deprived 10% in the country.

Employment rates for disabled people and those from ethnic minorities, also lag behind the UK average.

The research is from the independent charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and The University of Manchester. Professor Lupton, said: "That levels of poverty and inequality remain so high in Greater Manchester is unjust and a waste of too many people's talents and energies.”